U.S. governors and their responses to Syrian refugees

• On this page:
• Context
• Role of governors
• Map
• Gubernatorial statements

Updated November 19, 2015

After the attacks in Paris, France, on November 13, 2015, many U.S. governors declared their support or opposition to Syrian refugee resettlement in their states. The legal and political questions are summarized below, along with statements by governors explaining their positions.

Context of the refugee crisis

Between 2011, when armed conflict in the Syrian civil war began, and 2016, the United Nations estimated that more than 12 million people (including more than 5 million children) within the country were displaced. At least four million of those individuals left Syria to seek refuge in the Middle East and Europe. Prior to September 2015, fewer than 2,000 Syrians had been accepted for resettlement in the United States since 2011. In September 2015, the Obama administration offered to take in as many as 10,000 Syrian refugees over the following year. In November 2015, governors in 31 states released statements opposing refugee resettlement in their states. Governors in 15 other states released statements of support for refugee resettlement.

What role do governors play?

The Refugee Act of 1980 gives the president broad power over who is permitted to enter the United States. That includes refugees who face “persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion,” especially if it involves an “unforeseen emergency refugee situation.” Federal authority over immigration law was affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court in its 2012 decision, Arizona v. United States.

State officials, including governors, who are responsible for refugee resettlement can, however, slow or block incoming refugees. According to Kathleen Newland, a senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute, "States do have a role in the refugee resettlement process post admission, and it would certainly be possible for them to obstruct the resettlement process." At least one legal expert agrees:

“	My suspicion is that if a state was firmly opposed to having Syrian refugees in their borders then as an initial matter, the government might choose to put them somewhere else.	”
—Prof. Jack Chin, UC Davis School of Law

Gubernatorial positions across the 50 states

Hover over a state to find its governor's stated position.

Gubernatorial statements on refugee resettlements

State	Governor	Leaning	In the news
Alabama	Robert Bentley (R)	Strong Opposition	"I will oppose any attempt to relocate Syrian refugees to Alabama through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. As your Governor, I will not stand complicit to a policy that places the citizens of Alabama in harm’s way. ... I will not place Alabamians at even the slightest, possible risk of an attack on our people."
Alaska	Bill Walker (R)	Conditional Support	Walker said he would not block refugee relocation. "My highest concern is the safety of all Alaskans, and I appreciate the work being done by Catholic Social Services to help refugees settle in our state and become valuable members of our community. ... I am committed to working with the federal government to ensure the highest level of safety for the citizens of Alaska and the United States, and I want to make sure Alaska officials play a role in refugee relocations efforts in our state." Note: The governor did not specify how many refugees Alaska would accept, but the state receives an average of 120 refugees from war-torn countries each year.
Arizona	Doug Ducey (R)	Strong Opposition	"Given the horrifying events in Paris last week, I am calling for an immediate halt in the placement of any new refugees in Arizona. As governor, I am invoking our state's right under 8 USC, Section 1522 (a), to receive immediate consultation by federal authorities per the United States Refugee Act... I also call on Congress and the President to immediately amend federal law to provide states greater oversight and authority in the administration of the placement of refugees. These acts serve as a reminder that the world remains at war with radical Islamic terrorists. Our national leaders must react with the urgency and leadership that every American expects to protect our citizens." Note: Through late September, Arizona had accepted 112 Syrian refugees in 2015.
Arkansas	Asa Hutchinson (R)	Strong Opposition	"As governor, I oppose any facility or installation in Arkansas being used as a Syrian refugee center. Many of the Syrian refugees are fleeing violence in their own country but Europe, Asia or Africa are logically the best places for resettlement or for temporary asylum. Syria is a war torn country and the United States will support our European friends in fighting ISIL in Syria and elsewhere; however, this is not the right strategy for the United States to become a permanent place of relocation. Again, I will oppose Arkansas being used as such a relocation center. The hardships facing these refugees and their families are beyond most of our understanding, and my thoughts and prayers are with them, but I will not support a policy that is not the best solution and that poses risk to Arkansans."
California	Jerry Brown (D)	Strong Support	“I intend to work closely with the President so that he can both uphold America’s traditional role as a place of asylum, but also ensure that anyone seeking refuge in America is fully vetted in a sophisticated and utterly reliable way. You can be sure that we will do everything in our power to protect the people of our state.”
Colorado	John Hickenlooper (D)	Strong Support	"Our first priority remains the safety of our residents. We will work with the federal government and Homeland Security to ensure the national verification processes for refugees are as stringent as possible. We can protect our security and provide a place where the world's most vulnerable can rebuild their lives."
Connecticut	Dannel P. Malloy (D)	Strong Support	"[I]f refugees — many who are children fleeing a horrific, war-torn country — seek and are granted asylum after a rigorous security process, we should and will welcome them in Connecticut."
Delaware	Jack Markell (D)	Strong Support	"We should rally around the President's call for compassion for a suffering population that wants nothing more than a safe place to rebuild their lives from the rubble of war."
Florida	Rick Scott (R)	Strong Opposition	Scott wants Congress "to take immediate and aggressive action" to prevent President Barack Obama and his administration from using federal tax dollars to fund the relocation of 425 Syrian refugees to Florida.
Georgia	Nathan Deal (R)	Strong Opposition	"We think it’s appropriate for us to take care of our people here in Georgia." Note: Governor Deal also requested confirmation of the backgrounds of 59 Syrian refugees who had already resettled in Georgia.
Hawaii	David Ige (D)	Strong Support	"Hawaii is the Aloha State, known for its tradition of welcoming all people with tolerance and mutual respect. ... I am confident that our state will work closely with the federal government to ensure that appropriate resources and support are available before any refugees arrive in Hawaii."
Idaho	Butch Otter (R)	Strong Opposition	"It makes no sense under the best of circumstances for the United States to allow people into our country who have the avowed desire to harm our communities, our institutions and our people."
Illinois	Bruce Rauner (R)	Conditional Opposition	"Our nation and our state have a shared history of providing safe haven for those displaced by conflict, but the news surrounding the Paris terror attacks reminds us of the all-too-real security threats facing America. We must find a way to balance our tradition as a state welcoming of refugees while ensuring the safety and security of our citizens. ...[T]he state of Illinois will temporarily suspend accepting new Syrian refugees and consider all of our legal options pending a full review of our country’s acceptance and security processes by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.”
Indiana	Mike Pence (R)	Conditional Opposition	According to The Indianapolis Star, Gov. Pence was directing all state agencies to stop resettling Syrian refugees in Indiana until the federal government could provide assurances that "proper security measures are in place." He said that his "first responsibility is to ensure the safety and security of all Hoosiers." Note: About 40 Syrian refugees have resettled in Indiana since 2010.
Iowa	Terry Branstad (R)	Conditional Opposition	"Until a thorough and thoughtful review is conducted by the intelligence community and the safety of Iowans can be assured, the federal government should not resettle any Syrian refugees in Iowa.”
Kansas	Sam Brownback (R)	Strong Opposition	“My first priority as Governor is the safety of all Kansans. We must take immediate action to ensure terrorists do not enter the nation or our state under the guise of refugee resettlement. ... I have therefore directed all state agencies, departments, boards or commissions not to participate or assist in the relocation of Syrian refugees to Kansas."
Kentucky	Steve Beshear (D)	Strong Support	Gov. Beshear said the commonwealth would continue to welcome all refugees that were screened and vetted. "As long as I'm governor, we're going to be looking at the Syrian refugee problem on a case-by-case basis," Beshear said. "There are thousands of these families that are victims of terrorism and are fleeing terrorism and are just looking for a safe haven. And obviously the United States is gonna be a part of that effort." Note: Governor-elect Matt Bevin (R) takes office December 8, 2015. He said, "I am joining with other governors across the country in opposing the resettlement of Syrian nationals until we can better determine the full extent of any risks to our citizens."
Louisiana	Bobby Jindal(R)	Strong Opposition	"It is irresponsible and severely disconcerting to place individuals, who may have ties to ISIS, in a state without the state's knowledge or involvement. ... It would be prudent to pause the process of refugees coming to the United States. Authorities need to investigate what happened in Europe before this problem comes to the United States."
Maine	Paul LePage (R)	Strong Opposition	“To bring Syrian refugees into our country without knowing who they are is to invite an attack on American soil just like the one we saw in Paris last week and in New York City on 9/11. That is why I adamantly oppose any attempt by the federal government to place Syrian refugees in Maine, and will take every lawful measure in my power to prevent it from happening.”
Maryland	Larry Hogan (R)	Conditional Opposition	"As governor of Maryland, the safety and security of Marylanders remains my first priority. Following the terrorist attacks on Paris just four days ago, and after careful consideration, I am now requesting that federal authorities cease any additional settlements of refugees from Syria in Maryland until the U.S. government can provide appropriate assurances that refugees from Syria pose no threat to public safety." Note: Hogan spokesman Matthew A. Clark said that Maryland received 7,384 refugees between the middle of 2011 and June 30, 2015, including 37 from Syria.
Massachusetts	Charles D. Baker (R)	Conditional Opposition	"I’m not interested in accepting refugees from Syria. I would need to know a lot more than I know now before I would agree to do anything. ... My view on this is that the safety and security of the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is my highest priority. ... I’m always going to be at least willing to hear what the federal government has to say. ... Hearing what they have to say doesn’t mean saying yes.”
Michigan	Rick Snyder (R)	Conditional Opposition	Governor Snyder said the state would "put on hold our efforts to accept new refugees. ... Michigan is a welcoming state and we are proud of our rich history of immigration. But our first priority is protecting the safety of our residents."
Minnesota	Mark Dayton (D)	Strong Support	"My first priority is to protect the safety of the people of Minnesota. I have been assured by the White House that all refugees are subject to the highest level of security checks of any category of traveler to the United States."
Mississippi	Phil Bryant (R)	Strong Opposition	Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant wrote on Facebook that he was working with the state's homeland security department to "determine the current status of any Syrian refugees that may be brought to our state in the near future. I will do everything humanly possible to stop any plans from the Obama administration to put Syrian refugees in Mississippi. The policy of bringing these individuals into the country is not only misguided, it is extremely dangerous. I'll be notifying President Obama of my decision today to resist this potential action."
Missouri	Jay Nixon (D)	Uncertain	“The safety of Missourians is my highest priority, and the terrorists who were involved in planning and perpetrating the attacks in Paris must be caught and brought to justice. The screening process for refugees is the responsibility of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and I call on our federal partners to implement the strongest possible safeguards to protect our state and nation.”
Montana	Steve Bullock (D)	Conditional Support	"Montana has a process in place for considering refugee settlement requests. We are reviewing those protocols to ensure that if a request comes (that) we take all appropriate steps to ensure that the safety of Montanans will not be jeopardized by their placement. If there are safety concerns about any refugees that are requesting settlement, they will be denied.”
Nebraska	Pete Ricketts (R)	Conditional Opposition	"Nebraska is a welcoming place for families seeking a home to live, work, and raise a family. While I understand the danger and persecution many are facing in the Middle East, it is important that our state and our nation consider the safety and security of Nebraskans and Americans first in any refugee resettlement efforts. The terrorist attacks that occurred over the weekend in Paris are a solemn reminder of the reach and strength of ISIS and their agents."
Nevada	Brian Sandoval (R)	Strong Opposition	"I am specifically concerned about the background checks performed for Syrian refugees sent to Nevada for resettlement, and would appreciate further guidance on the benefits eligibility of such persons while they reside here. We must balance our nation's role as an international leader with the safety and security of our citizens and visitors."
New Hampshire	Maggie Hassan (D)	Conditional Opposition	The governor's spokesman said Hassan “has always made clear that we must ensure robust refugee screening to protect American citizens, and believes that we must know more of the facts about those who carried out the Paris terrorist attacks and have strong assurances of safety from our intelligence officials before we admit refugees from Syria into the United States.”
New Jersey	Chris Christie (R)	Strong Opposition	"I do not trust this administration to effectively vet the people who are supposed to be coming in in order to protect the safety and security of the American people, so I would not permit them in. ... I don't think that orphans under 5 should be admitted to the United States at this point."
New Mexico	Susana Martinez (R)	Strong Opposition	Press secretary Michael Lonergan wrote that the governor "strongly opposes the Obama Administration’s plan to accept more Syrian refugees until there is a very clear plan in place to properly vet and place the refugees, and the voices of governors and the public can be heard. The Governor’s top priority is keeping New Mexico’s families safe. In light of the attacks in Paris, she has directed all relevant state agencies to work closely with federal authorities to help prevent and respond to threats of any nature."
New York	Andrew Cuomo (D)	Strong Support	“The day America says close the gates, build the wall, then I say take down the Statue of Liberty because you’ve gone to a different place.”
North Carolina	Pat McCrory (R)	Conditional Opposition	“I am now requesting that the president and the federal government cease sending refugees from Syria to North Carolina until we are thoroughly satisfied with the effectiveness of the federal background checks and security checks on such refugees entering our country."
North Dakota	Jack Dalrymple (R)	Conditional Opposition	"Ensuring the safety and security of North Dakotans, as well as all Americans, is a top priority for us all, and so I urge the administration to halt the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the U.S. until the system has been reviewed and we can be assured that our citizens will be safe.”
Ohio	John Kasich (R)	Strong Opposition	Jim Lynch, a spokesman for Ohio Gov. John Kasich, issued this statement: "The governor doesn't believe the U.S. should accept additional Syrian refugees because security and safety issues cannot be adequately addressed. The governor is writing to the President to ask him to stop, and to ask him to stop resettling them in Ohio. We are also looking at what additional steps Ohio can take to stop resettlement of these refugees."
Oklahoma	Mary Fallin (R)	Conditional Opposition	“The Obama administration needs to assure the public that the background checks they are doing are rigorous, and that American lives will not be endangered in the process. Until then, I call on the Obama administration to suspend any Syrian refugees into the United States. During these uncertain times, the Obama administration needs to make sure those entering the United States are not terrorists. ... Oklahomans have welcomed refugees escaping religious persecution for many years and will continue to do so.”
Oregon	Kate Brown (D)	Strong Support	"Clearly, Oregon will continue to accept refugees. They seek safe haven and we will continue to open the doors of opportunity for them. ... The words on the Statue of Liberty apply in Oregon just as they do in every other state."
Pennsylvania	Tom Wolf (D)	Strong Support	"I believe we can keep Pennsylvania safe while also ensuring that Pennsylvania stays true to its values and builds on its rich history of accepting immigrants and refugees from around the world. These two goals are not mutually exclusive. As millions in Syria face violence, persecution and death, we should continue to help those who we can while taking care to protect our commonwealth and our country, just as have done for hundreds of years. To reject only Syrian refugees could embolden the message of those who seek to inspire violence by saying that we, as Americans, do not have compassion or care for specific groups of people in the world facing religious persecution."
Rhode Island	Gina Raimondo (D)	Uncertain	"We haven't received any requests to assist the settlement of refugees from Syria, so there's nothing to decide at the moment. If a request is made, we will coordinate closely with the White House and with the State Police. Anything Rhode Island may do in the future to support our nation's efforts to respond to this humanitarian crisis and help those in need must include robust background checks and security procedures to keep Rhode Islanders safe."
South Carolina	Nikki Haley (R)	Conditional Opposition	"After reviewing recent public statements and personally speaking today with intelligence officials, it is my understanding that while our national security agencies are working tirelessly to vet potential refugees, there remain gaps in available intelligence for those fleeing Syria. This lack of historical and verifiable intelligence with many Syrian refugees makes it difficult, if not impossible, to thoroughly vet individuals seeking to enter the United States as a refugee. Therefore, until I can be assured that all potential refugees from Syria have no ties to terrorist organizations, I am requesting that the State Department not resettle any Syrian refugees in South Carolina."
South Dakota	Dennis Daugaard (R)	Uncertain	The governor's chief of staff, Tony Venhuizen, said, "South Dakota has not received any Syrian refugees, and we do not believe we are going to. If that changes, the governor would explore the state's options, but it is not at all clear that the state has any say over this."
Tennessee	Bill Haslam (R)	Conditional Opposition	"We are currently working to get specifics from the U.S. Department of State on the status of any Syrian refugees currently slated to come to Tennessee. While screening, acceptance and placement is legally under the authority of the federal government, they have said in the past they would be open to cooperating with receiving states. Today I’m asking the federal government to suspend placements in Tennessee until states can become more of a partner in the vetting process."
Texas	Greg Abbott (R)	Strong Opposition	In a letter sent to the president, the governor wrote, "Given the tragic attack in Paris and the threats we have already seen in Texas, coupled with the FBI director's acknowledgment that we do not have the information necessary to effectively vet Syrian nationals, Texas cannot participate in any program that will result in Syrian refugees -- any one of whom could be connected to terrorism -- being resettled in Texas."
Utah	Gary Herbert (R)	Uncertain	"Governors really don't have the ability to stop refugees from coming into their states, in spite the rhetoric we hear out there. Let's get on the prevention side and make sure that the federal government, which has the number one responsibility, is doing all they can to prevent terrorists from coming into our country."
Vermont	Peter Shumlin (D)	Strong Support	“What has this country become? Where have we left our values, our sense of morality and our sense of justice and the right thing to do?”
Virginia	Terry McAuliffe (D)	Strong Support	A statement from the governor's office said, "The Governor and his public safety team are in constant communication with federal authorities about all refugee resettlements, including those involving refugees from Syria. Every refugee who is settled in the U.S. undergoes intensive security screening. ... Nothing is more important to the Governor and his team than keeping Virginians safe."
Washington	Jay Inslee (D)	Strong Support	"I stand firmly with President Obama who said [Monday] morning. We do not close our hearts to these victims of such violence and somehow start equating the issue of refugees with the issue of terrorism."
West Virginia	Earl Ray Tomblin (D)	Unknown	Note: Governor Tomblin's stance on Syrian refugees remains unknown.
Wisconsin	Scott Walker (R)	Conditional Opposition	"With this in mind, I am calling upon the President to immediately suspend the program pending a full review of its security and acceptance procedures. The State of Wisconsin will not accept new Syrian refugees. There may be those who will try to take advantage of the generosity of our country and the ability to move freely within our borders through this federal resettlement program, and we must ensure we are doing all we can to safeguard the security of Americans."
Wyoming	Matt Mead (R)	Conditional Opposition	“No state should have to endure the threat of terrorists entering our borders. In light of the horrific terrorist attacks in Paris, I have joined other governors in demanding the refugee process be halted until it is guaranteed to provide the security demanded by Wyoming and United States citizens."

See also

• 2016 presidential candidates on ISIS and Syrian refugees
• U.S. mayors and their responses to Syrian refugees

Recent news

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